Title: Aftershock (5/7)
Notes: Thanks to Kat who encouraged me the ending didn't suck, and everyone who's reviewed.
~*~
Hyde sat on the basement sofa, stunned. He wasn't entirely sure what had caused the sudden change in Jackie, but he sure as hell wasn't going to complain. He leaned his head against the back of the sofa and ran the events of the past evening through his mind one more time. It all came down to one thing; she wanted him back.
Unbelievable.
After he got past the initial shock of Jackie's kiss, he wrapped his arms around her and vowed to never let go, just in case she changed her mind. He didn't know how long they stood there, locked in each others embrace. And he wasn't quite sure when he had lifted her up and walked back to the picnic table. He sat her on the top of the table and stood between her legs, kissing the whole time.
There were no more words spoken that night. They communicated in looks and touches, and spent a large part of the evening sitting on the weathered picnic table, wrapped in each others arms, just staring at the stars.
They didn't leave until the last possible moment, and even then they probably wouldn't make curfew. He walked her to the Pinciotti's door, gave her a quick kiss on the lips and watched as she smiled and softly closed the door. He was sure he had a stupid, goofy grin on his face, but he didn't care, it had shaped up to be one of the best nights of his life.
He sighed and looked around the empty basement. The house was silent, everyone had long since gone to bed. Telling Forman could wait, after all, he didn't want to be a girl about the whole thing. That left going to bed, and for the first time in over a month Hyde looked forward to a good night's sleep, filled with pleasant dreams.
~*~
"So Steven," Jackie started as she placed two bottles of Coke on the coffee table. She sat down on the couch and swivelled so her legs were stretched along the length and her head was resting on Hyde's thigh. "Donna and Eric got their acceptance letters to UW the other day."
"Good for them." He replied, knowing full well what she was up to.
"Have you heard anything yet?" She prodded.
"Jackie—"
"What? I'm just curious."
"You and I both know the answer, Jackie. I'm not the college type."
She tilted her head back and looked up at him. "But Steven, think of all of the things you could do. How successful you could be."
"Still not going."
"So, what –are- you going to do?"
"Never really thought about it." He shrugged. "Most people would have been surprised I made it through high school."
"Oh Steven." She reached out and gently squeezed his hand.
"Maybe I'll give this chef thing a try." He said absently.
"Does this mean you're going to stay in Point Place?"
"I could be persuaded." He waggled his eyebrows at her.
"You're a pig." She said flatly.
"What about you? Given any thought to what you want to be when you grow up?" He smiled down at her.
"It's weird, you know, I always thought I'd graduate and get married." She thought for a second. "Or become a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader. But now – I don't know, I think I've been living with Donna too long - ."
"You want to be a Packer Cheerleader?"
"No," she playfully swatted his arm. "I want something more. I'm just not sure what that is."
"Are you sure about the cheerleader thing, you might get them to finally sell more tickets."
"Steven, I'm being serious here." She scolded. He held his hands up in a mock protest and tried to keep a straight face. "Please, continue."
"According to Donna there's going to be huge opportunities for women, I won't have to settle for being a teacher or secretary."
"You don't have to make a decision right away."
"I know, but it's nice to have plans. And if everyone's moving away, I'll have something to work towards. I might even be able to finish school in half a year."
"One less thing to worry about." He leaned down and kissed the tip of her nose. "I'm not going anywhere without you."
~*~
A week after their first date they were back at the small diner, seated in the far corner booth. Jackie was in rare form, criticizing everyone from the couple seated in the next booth to the waitress who, in her opinion, was spending way to much time batting her eyelashes at Hyde. What had changed was the good natured way she said it, always trying to keep a straight face. But they both knew she was kidding.
Most of the time.
The waitress came by and deposited two plates in front of them, lingering slightly as she asked Hyde if they needed anything else. Jackie glared and primly told her they were fine, thanks. She shook her head and dug into the mound of fries on her plate.
"Hey, you know what I just realized?"
"Your taste in music sucks?"
"No." She threw a wadded up napkin at him. "If I stay at Donna's house next year, you'll be my scrawny next door neighbour boyfriend. We'll be Eric and Donna version two." She paused. "Except I'll have better fashion sense."
"I'm no scrawny neighbour boy." He used a fry to punctuate each word before popping it into his mouth.
"Yeah…Ok, Whatever. You really have no sense of romance."
"I just tell it like it is, baby."
She shrugged and returned back to her food. "Are you still going to stay with the Formans?" She asked after a few minutes.
"If they don't kick me out. Why not? Cheap rent, good food. I might even get a new room out of the deal." He paused. "Heard from your mom lately?"
"More postcards. She seems to have stuck to tropical places. And she keeps sending money—where do you think she's getting it?"
He gave her a look that said exactly how he thought she was getting the money.
"Yeah," She tossed her head. "You're probably right. Would be nice if she called though."
"You miss her?"
She shook her head. "I can't believe she won't come back for me. Hurts, ya know?"
He knew. That was one of the things they had in common. It was something the others had no frame of reference, they couldn't understand what is was like to have a parent run out on you.
"She'll come back eventually. Probably get deported…"
She cut him off, "That will do, thanks."
"Just trying to make you feel better."
"I feel something all right." She said sarcastically.
He laughed and took a large bite out of his hamburger. She struggled to keep a straight face, but quickly gave it up and started giggling. It took them a few minutes to settle down, all it took was one look and they would burst out laughing.
Finally they had calmed down enough to finish their dinner and pay the bill, They left the diner trying to decide what to do for the rest of the night. "You could take me for a drive." She suggested and she slid into the El Camino.
~*~
He parked the car in a small clearing just off the dirt road, the moonlight glinted off the hood of the sedan. He barely had a chance to bring the car to a stop when Jackie launched herself into his lap. She quickly took control of the situation, kissing him fully on the lips, her tongue darting in and out of his mouth. She trailed her fingertips along his chest before wrapping her arms around his neck.
Desperate for more contact she straddled his legs and started to slowly rock her hips against his groin, delighted by the soft moan that escaped his lips. Their combined heat penetrated through the two thin layers of clothing that separated them. She smiled and lightly nipped his bottom lip, then sucked it into her mouth to sooth the wound.
"You wanna play, huh?" he growled and started running his fingers along her sides, finding the most ticklish places.
"I'm not playing." She said and planted a firm kiss on his lips, effectively stopping his wandering hands.
She leaned back enough to undo the small buttons that held his shirt closed. With that task accomplished she paused only long enough to place a series of butterfly kisses along his newly exposed flesh. Overwhelmed by the sensation of her warm lips he leaned his head back against the black vinyl seat. She looked up, filled with satisfaction at his reaction to the simplest of touches. She reached down with one hand and gently massaged the evidence of his arousal.
"Steven," she whispered into his ear, her warm breath giving him goosebumps. "I want you to make love to me."
Overwhelmed by lust, his only thought was to wrap his hands around her slender hips and re-apply the delicious pressure her contact had. Wanting nothing more than to be filled by the man in front of her, she struggled to find the end to his smooth leather belt, and work it through the metal buckle.
Her actions finally penetrated the passion filled haze that invaded his mind.
"Jackie…" He tried to wrestle out of her grasp. "Jackie, babe, slow down for sec."
"Come on Steven, I know you want to." She purred.
"You can't imagine how much I want this." He grabbed the hands that were still trying to undo his belt. "But it's not going to happen in the front seat of my car, or in the basement on a couch or cot."
She sat back and looked at him, feeling only the rejection of the moment.
"We can wait a bit, it doesn't need to happen right away." He reached out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Jackie, let me make it special for you."
His words penetrated the fog that had surrounded her mind. It wasn't a rejection, he wanted her, wanted to give her a first time that was filled with romance.
"Are you going to do that all the time."
"Do what?" He asked, confused about her change of mood.
"Say something that makes me fall in love all over again."
"It's possible." He smiled and leaned in to give her a quick kiss. "Come on, I'll take you home before I change my mind."
She straightened her clothes and ran her fingers through her hair to put herself back together. Then she scooted along the seat of the car until she was next to Hyde; and lifted his arm so that it was settled around her shoulders. She looked over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you Steven."
"Yeah, yeah." He said good-naturedly, and pulled the car out of the clearing and headed home.
To be continued…
Hmmm, wonder what will happen next chapter?